Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Chilly
Air temperature near or just above freezing on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Snow flurries
Occasional light snow flurries, sleet or rain lower elevations. Amounts little more than nuisance value, but locally more persistent and reducing visibility for periods.
Chilly
Air temperature near or just above freezing on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 21st January 2025
Last updated
Mon 20th Jan 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Below freezing on Scottish tops. Noticeably chilly in the breeze. A cluster of showers with hill snow moves across the Highlands early in the day, but clears to be often dry and bright. Showers continue near to western coasts, some moving inland. A slow-moving front over England & north Wales brings grey and damp conditions.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Largely dry, brief flurries; broken cloud and sun. Moderate breeze.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15 to 25mph, strongest over higher Cairngorms, at times 30mph exposed slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but marked wind chill over the mountains. May affect comfortable walking on some higher slopes.
How Wet?
Early showers/flurries, often dry
Showers passing eastward in the morning, with snow above 700-800m. Soon clearing to be often dry. A rare brief shower or flurry possible into the afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Occasionally covering tops, clearer north/east
Varied banks of cloud over higher slopes in the morning, mainly during and after showers for a time. Lifting and breaking to upper slopes. Patches may come and go toward Drumochter. Often clearer north and eastern hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% southwest, to 70% northeast.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun, best toward east and north into afternoon. Visibility mostly very good, reduced briefly in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C. Wind chill feeling like -10C on high tops.
Freezing Level
900m or slightly higher eastern areas.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 22nd January 2025
Last updated
Mon 20th Jan 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable direction, 10mph and under. Occasionally 15mph on higher terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Little to none
How Wet?
No precipitation expected
Cloud on the hills?
High ground mostly covered, clearer north
High ground of Cairngorm Plateau mostly shrouded. Other high tops often capped too. Often clear on northern slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%, 70% north
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine in and out, more frequent north. Good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1C, some areas several degrees cooler.
Freezing Level
800m, some areas south of Cairngorm Plateau down to 600m
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 23rd January 2025
Last updated
Mon 20th Jan 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly later west-southwesterly; speeds likely increasing 20 to 35mph, risk 45mph afternoon, suddenly squally.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking becoming impeded with increasing buffeting on higher terrain where exposed. Significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Risk snow developing
Local snow flurries developing from the southwest, but several hours likely dry. Into afternoon, increasing risk of more persistent snow developing from the southwest, rain only lowest slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent toward south
Banks of cloud mostly southern Cairngorms in the morning, some patches drifting north, but toward Strathspey may be clear for a few hours at least. In snow, cloud lowering more widely over hills.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of weak sun mainly morning, giving way to thickening high cloud. Visibility very good away from local cloud banks, becoming very poor where snow develops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -15C.
Freezing Level
Locally varied 600 to 800m, some pockets of near-freezing air some lower slopes.
Planning Outlook
Deteriorating later this week - a series of storm systems coming in from the Atlantic through late January bringing frequently severe conditions to the mountains. Thursday sees winds reach gale force on many tops with a spell of heavy rain and upland snow developing from the west. By Friday, severe conditions from lower elevations upward, hurricane-force winds over the mountains, plus extensive rain and hill snow. Gales continue into Saturday, severe for the Highlands. Snow is likely to accumulate over Scottish mountains during the next week or so with only brief thawing. More variable temperatures for England and Wales with cycles of freeze and thaw. Atlantic patterns likely prevail into early February.